3 Key Benefits to 'Shelter in Place'

Dear Fellow ALPHA,

We are currently living in unprecedented times. Playgrounds, parks, schools and non-essential businesses are being closed across the world. We are being asked to remain home, only leaving for necessary trips to pick up food, medications, mail or other essential activities. For many, it feels as though each day produces a new level of uncertainty. During these times of uncertainty, many people can start to feel powerless and fearful of what’s to come. For others, they see this uncertainty as a gift. A chance to harness the pressure of these challenging times and ignite a change in their life.

For anyone who knows me personally or has read my book, American Strength: The Ultimate Guide to Health, Happiness &  Success,you already know that I have had my share of setbacks. You also know that I see setbacks as a set-up for a massive comeback. This is because a foundational belief I hold is that challenging times are how opportunities find us. History is full of stories where in uncertain times people were able to find opportunities to move forward in spite of their current environment, to flourish in the face of adversity. 

The fact is, many people are going through or are about to go through a transition, a reset, a change that will impact their lives moving forward. So, I decided to detail out 3 key benefits to being asked to shelter in place. A few ways to use this time for your benefit. A few ways you can take back some control by turning the negative feeling uncertainty brings and replacing it with the igniting power of possibility that unlocks the door for opportunity. 

1. Take Inventory

Over the next few months a lot about our lives is going to change. Specifically the way we socialize and work. Our personal interactions are going to permanently evolve to some extent. The best advice I can give is to be ready for the change before it happens. Through all of the ups and downs I have learned it’s not the strongest that survive, it’s the ones who are willing and able to adapt to a new environment the fastest. Those who are willing to let go of what was in exchange for what will be.  

The best way to adapt to a new environment is by tapping into our personal superpowers. The superpowers I write about are not in the comic book sense but in the sense that we all posses a certain set of abilities that separate us from each other. These innate abilities are our strengths  and it's our strengths that unite us and propel us forward. 

Having a strength-based approach to life, especially in our career, can have a profound impact on our ability to flourish in all situations. Plus, when we are working within our strength skillset we are usually enjoying ourselves, even during challenging times. This is because during challenging times we have to dig deep into our strengths to adapt and innovate new strategies in order to move forward. 

However, having clarity and knowing what our innate strengths are is rare for most. Many times, people are stuck in unfulfilling jobs that never quite feel right  and end up going throughout a large part of their life never having the time to figure out their true strengths.  

Now is the perfect time to take inventory of what you're good at. Take time each day and write out what makes you different. Are you good at sales, cooking, woodworking, science, programming, landscaping or gardening? Maybe you have good interpersonal relationships and enjoy helping others improve their life?

In the near future, there will be new jobs available and old ones that will fade from existence. This will create a plethora of opportunities for many people. The ability to work from home, make extra income from their Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms and e-commerce (buying or selling products or services online) in general will continue to be the modern day boom town. There will be opportunities for those who are prepared to take advantage it.   

So, take the time now and create a list out your abilities and talents. The things that seem to describe you and even better, excite you! In the coming months, the world will need excellent people, like you, to help launch us back into action. 

2. Structure Healthy Habits

This reset is a great time to structure our lives for success, so that when things go back to normal we are prepared to hit the ground running. There are many different ways we can structure our lives to feel better, move better and ultimately live healthier lives. However, here are what I believe to be the 3 most important. 

1. Nutrition
   Eating 4-5 small nutrient dense meals throughout the day is one of the most powerful things we can do. Not only does it provide our bodies with nutrients for repair and regeneration it also helps support our emotional well-being, increase our natural energy and help us burn more fat.
   
   This is a great time to learn how to cook foods you will enjoy eating and that are healthy for you too. If you find cooking to be a challenge because it isn’t your “strength” maybe try calling a friend that enjoys cooking for some help. If that doesn’t work, you can always search your area for a few places that provide healthy takeout. When asking for help, you are providing an opportunity for someone to use their strength to help you move forward.
   
   In addition to eating well, it's also a perfect time to get back on track with your supplements. Nutritional supplements are daily staples for millions of people who desire to live healthier, happier lives. However, in times of stress we can overlook these powerful allies.
   
   My wife and I continue to be militant about our nutritional supplements. We are using all of the available tools to support our well-being. This is because we want to provide an environment for our mind and body to be as bullet proof as possible. It's always easier to keep our health than it is to regain it.

2. Exercise
   Have you always wanted to get in better shape but never had the time? Well, here is your chance. Plus, making the time to exercise for 30-60 minutes a day directly impacts every aspect of your life. Not only can working-out support your mental well-being, it strengthens your muscles, joints and can also improve digestion.
   
   If you are in need of at home workouts there are trainers who have adapted and transitioned to providing online training for a reasonable fee. This is fantastic because it allows you to benefit from professional instruction and  motivation in the comfort of your own home. 

3. Sleep
   Routinely getting between 7-9 hrs of sleep a night is required for the body to regenerate fully. However, according to numerous reports many of us are sleep deprived. This was due to our hectic work schedules combined with our desire to stay up late on our phone or binge watching our favorite television shows.
   
   Now that many of us are sheltered in place, at least for the time being, it provides a wonderful opportunity to go to bed at a reasonable time. Allowing for our bodies to reset and fully regenerate. However, in order to receive quality sleep it's important to turn our phones off at least 60 minutes before heading to bed.
   
   Powering down our phones and televisions creates an opportunity to read, meditate or do some light stretching. According to South Dakota State University, stretching before bed can relax your muscles and may even help you wake up with less stiffness and pain. Regulating sleeping  patterns is critical for health. I like to think of it this way, when the body is rested the body is resilient.

3. Get Excited

Watching the news and being informed is an important and critical aspect of our lives. However, watching it too much can also be depressing. If you are like me, the news seems like a bad infomercial. One where the infomercial salesman is about to say, but wait, there’s more!

In times like these it can be difficult to feel excited about much, let alone the future. However, that is exactly what we need to do, we need to find hope and possibility that something better lies ahead. To do this, I suggest that each day you find a few things that excite you. Does the possibility of discovering your strengths, as I discussed in the first section, excite you? What about developing a healthier lifestyle, one that will put you in the best shape of your life?

There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning and you want to live. Why do you want to live? What's the point? What inspires you? What do you love about the future?
-Elon Musk  
I have talked with people who get up and research interesting places that they have always dreamed of traveling. These people are thrilled about the possibility of traveling to exotic locations, probably at a discount, once the travel industry gets up and running. Whether it's traveling, learning a new language or skill we need to find things that inspire us. Without it, we will become battle fatigued from news cycle overload.

In conclusion, these unprecedented times are impacting everyone which means you are not alone. If we rally around our individual strengths I believe we will come out of these unusual times better than before. Better because we will have been battle tested, yet preserved and united by strength. The future has yet to be written, it is up to us to write the script. The resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit is  unstoppable and I believe amazing things lie ahead.

Until Next Time,

Attack Your Life With Passion!

Brandon DiNovi
Co-Founder & CEO RAM ADVANTAGE